Psalm of Ascents for Solomon: If the Lord does not build the house, its builders labor in vain. Rabbi Judah the Prince sent Rabbi Hiyya, Rabbi Yosei, and Rabbi Ami from the city of Mabûr Qirîthâ d'Ishrâ'el to learn from them and to teach them. They came to a certain place, but found no scribes or teachers. They said to them, "Bring us a scroll of the Torah."
They replied, "There is no scroll here, only the ruins of a destroyed city." They asked them, "Are there no scribes or teachers here?" They replied, "We are the scribes and teachers." This is what is written: "If the Lord does not guard the city, the watchman stays awake in vain" (Psalm 127:1).
These are the wives of the students of the wise. "Behold, children are a heritage of the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward" (Psalm 127:3). The measure of flesh and blood is to work with the owner of the house, to till the soil with him, to sow with him, to harvest with him, to clear the land with him, to remove stones with him, and to give him one coin and go. But whoever says and it is done, the world is not like him.
Instead, he who desires children, the Lord gives him, as it is written, "Behold, children are a heritage of the Lord." He who desires wisdom, the Lord gives him, as it is written, "For the Lord gives wisdom" (Proverbs 2:6). He who desires wealth, the Lord gives him, as it is written, "And riches and honor come from you" (1 Chronicles 29:12).